Tokyo’s Best Outdoor Hotel Pools for Summer 2016

Presenting the best outdoor pools in Tokyo at some of the city's finest hotels for summer 2106. Non guests welcome.

It’s hard to describe the climate during Tokyo’s summer; sweatier than a carpenter’s sock? Hotter than vindaloo curry? Humidity as dense as a well made chocolate brownie? Whatever, it’s hot, sweaty and makes diving into a cool outdoor swimming pool feel like the best thing you’ve ever done with your life. Of course, there are plenty of pools in the Tokyo area, but we like to think of ourselves as cut from a finer cloth over here at City-Cost. No verruca socks or rouge plasters for us, please. Peeing in the pool? Diving bombing? Nah! We’re above that.

So it is we bring you a list of the classier pools in Tokyo. So classy in fact, they could only belong in the grounds and on the roofs of the finer hotels in town. But don’t worry, you don’t need to be forking out for a night’s stay just to use these Tokyo hotel pools. Non guests are welcome here, too. Let’s be clear, we’re looking at outdoor pools only.

We list them by the most expensive (and therefore by the best?) according to the price per adult on a weekday.

1) HOTEL NEW OTANI GARDEN RESORT SUMMER 2016

Probably the most famous of Tokyo’s outdoor hotel pools. The default setting for a luxury summer swim. With access to a gorgeous Japanese garden, one of Tokyo’s finest hotels, and a wealth of restaurants, this places is surely one of the best splurges in town. For an extra boost of the high life, how about renting a poolside private cabana for two. A snip at 100,000 yen!

Open

Hours

Fee (weekdays)

Fee (Sat, Sun, Aug 8-12)

July 16-21 and Sundays: 9am - 7pmMon-Sat during July 22-Sept 10: 9am-10pm

2) HOTEL EAST 21 GARDEN POOL

(http://www.hotel-east21.co.jp/shared/images/pool/img_main_top.jpg)

A luxury pool option in Tokyo that often comes as a surprise to many. To put it simply, they don’t know it’s here. That’s a good thing for those in the know though, as this is one spectacular pool. Surrounded by stepping, gardens, stone walls, and beyond that, Tokyo's impressive skyline. Surrounded by stepping, gardens, stone walls, and beyond that, Tokyo's impressive skyline. At 11 m by 30 m it's also a sizeable one, too.

3) ANA INTERCONTINENTAL TOKYO GARDEN POOL

A mainstay on the Tokyo luxury outdoor pool scene. Located on the 4th floor, and surrounded by looming skyscrapers, this pool has a sophisticated urban feel about it. There are sun loungers, and a poolside snack back for your nibbles and cocktail needs.

4) HILTON TOKYO BAY GARDEN POOL

OK, so not strictly in Tokyo (although that never seems to bother Disneyland) but as near as possible. Hilton Tokyo Bay’s Garden Pool is another outdoor option to be taken seriously. With its resort feel and the good vibes emanating from nearby Disneyland, it’s a place to feel like you’re on vacation, if only for a day.

5) TOKYO PRINCE HOTEL GARDEN POOL

(http://www.princehotels.com/content/en/tokyo/header_1538_1.jpg)

Existing in the presence of bright-red Tokyo Tower, the pool at Tokyo Prince Hotel clearly offers some great summer in Tokyo photo ops. With its garden setting and the aforementioned tower to boot, this is a serious summer lounging-by-the-pool option. At 25m long, and a non-nonsense rectangular form, it could also be a place to actually do some swimming.

Although the information below is taken from the hotel's page dated from today, the pool information is actually for last year. Double check over the phone for summer 2016.

6) GRAND PACIFIC LE DAIBA GRAND BLUE

(http://www.grandpacific.jp/img/facilities/main_pool04.jpg)

A popular Tokyo swimming pool option, and rightly so. The Odaiba location affords ocean and urban views (Rainbow Bridge, Tokyo skyline). With access to Odaiba’s entertainment and shopping to boot, a dip in Grand Blue could form part of a fantastic summer splurge in the city.

*Note - we couldn’t find any ‘official’ prices for the 2016 season. Those listed below (and the hours) are for last year, where they changed significantly depending on day/date.

7) KEIO PLAZA HOTEL SKY POOL

(http://www.keioplaza.com/facilities/images/index_ph02.jpg)

For non guests, the Keio Plaza in Shinjuku is probably most famous for its reasonably priced luxury buffets. There’s a pool to be enjoyed, too. Located on a 7th floor terrace, this is another Tokyo hotel pool with cool urban views (this time the towers of Shinjuku).

8) TOKYO DOME HOTEL GARDEN POOL

Proudly stationed at the more affordable end of the Tokyo top-end hotel scene, Tokyo Dome Hotel also has a reasonably-priced outdoor pool. With the hotel’s location next to a theme park, and a the famous baseball stadium, this is another good hotel pool as part of an entertaining day out. And a much cheaper one at that.

Do you have any experiences with Tokyo's outdoor hotel pools in summer? Let us know about your recommendations in the comments below. Or even better, put them in a blog post and get yourself some points.